Anatomy Of A Loss (PART 2)

Reading the paper today didn't help. Suddenly writers all over decided to dig up words from their dictionaries to describe how Adamson shamed Ateneo. For instance STAR sports headline exclaims: "Falcons claw, defeather, feast on Eagles". (defeather!?)

But you see, this is what readers want to read.  The Cinderella story of an "underdog" beating the big bad mighty villain. 




Let's admit it, this was once our story, when the Hail Mary Squad vanquished the invincible Green Archers to capture the 2002 crown. No one expected it, but it was our destiny. What people don't realize is that Adamson was never an underdog when it went up against Ateneo. Both teams feed on the same style of play. The main difference is probably just the focus of one from the other. When Adamson players heat up offensively, they begin to feed off their defensive energy and boost their overall confidence, sometimes even to the point of cockiness (which happens to the best of us).  Ateneo, on the other hand, works the other way around; the Eagles need to be solid defensively to be able to create opportunities offensively. Why do you think Coach Norman chose Adamson players to fill up the slots in the team when they joined an international competition? Adamson and Ateneo complement each others game. Whoever clicks first, wins.

But if you will argue that it is a battle of class, then I think you better stop reading and get the fuck out of our blog. It is a disrespect to the game of basketball to bring in issues of money and social standing. We won’t deny the truth of social classes, but on the court, it just doesn’t equate.

Let me continue where I left off from yesterday’s list of things Ateneo needs to cover for the next games.

Shoot With Confidence

Like I mentioned earlier, Ateneo’s offense stems from their ability to shut down their opponents and fuel their running game. Obviously, yesterday was an off day for our defense. From the moment Alvarez hit his first triple to start the offense going for Adamson, up to the one-handed follow-up flush by Manyara to add insult to injury, it showed how lost we were defensively. It eventually took its toll on our offense. We couldn’t run as much as we would have wanted, but when we did get to run, we were able to get some easy points on the board. But how do you run the floor when there are no missed shots to rebound? How do you run when there are no turnovers to convert to turnover points? And most importantly, there weren’t enough forced turnovers as well. Limited amount of steals or steal attempts. No jump-ball opportunities forced. Not even a single shot clock violation or an 8 second backcourt violation. These things used to be norms for the Eagles. Yesterday, they were simply outhustled.

There is really no answer to bad shooting. What the team could do though is attack the basket more and try to get to the line. Ateneo’s 3-point shooting has been inconsistent this year but we’re lucky enough to be efficient in running the ball, pounding it inside and hitting timely midrange shots. But when these weapons don’t click, we need other options. Shooters must be ready to shoot and slashers slash. If we get Oping, Emman, Juami, Tonino and even Von open to gun from the outside, there is bigger chance to free up the clogged lanes for guys like Ravena, Long and Salva to penetrate for easier baskets.

Defend With Command

There’s a difference between just defending and defending with command. Whenever Ateneo blows out their opponent, their defense often comes with a level of dominance that makes the opponent’s players have nightmares with just the thought of having to cross the midcourt line in 8 seconds.

Adamson hit their stride early by breaking down Ateneo’s defense from the onset. When they hit their outside shots, it spread the floor enough for Nuyles and Alvarez to make plays. This should not have occurred if we had disallowed the two to get to their spots at the top of the key. It is as crucial for the Blue Eagles to guard spots on the court as it is to guard players. We must watch the tapes and see where Nuyles and Alvarez usually get the ball. It is fine to allow them to get the ball, but a bit disturbing if they get it in places and angles wherein they can wreak havoc.  Same goes with their other players. If we get to push them out of places they’d usually go to to create screens and angles to the basket for their slashers, it will limit their movement and give our defenders back their leverage.

Cheer With All You’ve Got

Finally, we’ve come to the topic that irks me even with just the thought of it.

As soon as the Eagles were down by double digits, the proud crowd of almost 6,000 (1/3 of the full house 17k strong) went silent and their hearts numb. Numb to the fact that the boys were still in the game and forget that it is the sound of the final buzzer that signified the end of the match, not the score; Not yet at least. We were doomed from the start with this kind of crowd. Where were the fans from that FEU match who cheered on the team and kept them fighting? Where were the men and women who brought posters and banners, painted their faces and wore their jerseys just to be able to express their support for the team? Have we become so used to winning that it has come to a point wherein games are now just for entertainment’s sake once more? I sure hope not. Cause we dare not call ourselves 6^th men if we only intend to come play when we’re ahead.

The 6^th man comes in to relieve the starters and provide the firepower to keep the team competitive after fielding in its best players. Adamson’s crowd may have had the numbers, but I still believe we could have out-manned them with just the sheer heart we’ve shown in the past 3 years. Sadly, not all die-hards were in the building yesterday, and were replaced with ordinary audience in it for the hype.

A person once asked team NFP what a true UAAP fan was. We gave her a few points to ponder on but not really sure if we captured the point. Yesterday I found one glaring point to add to our observations. If Ateneo is down big and is sure to lose the game, would you stand up and leave? Will you try to dodge the embarrassment of having to go out of Araneta and face a band of shrieking ladies and boastful gentlemen who celebrate as though they won the game with their team? If you will, then I pity you. Don’t we Ateneans feel the same pride every time we win? Don’t we hope for NO CLASSES whenever we’re crowned champions? And don’t we feel the same level of “angas” walking out of Araneta heads up high as if hoping to bump into an opponent’s fan and tell him/her: “You’ve just been served.”

Well, we got served. So for those who think that leaving an unfinished game just because our team lost is acceptable, think again. You are a deserter, and just like in the HBO Series’ Game Of Thrones, there’s only one thing you deserve. (Not literally of course) Same goes for those who stopped believing. If a fairy in Neverland dies with every non-believing child, then imagine the effect on our players whenever we begin doubting and pointing fingers. Let us not turn into those types of supporters. We need to just hang in there and trust that the team will bounce back. They always do.

So here we are, a few days from the beginning of most heart wrenching finish yet.  The end is beyond our expectations; we can only hope for the best, but that requires for all of us to give our best as well.

Rally the troops, the team needs all the help they can get. Let us defend the crown with them. If there are only 2000 diehards in Ateneo, then let there be 2000 strong in the game. Full on, we march. 

Go Ateneo!

---MMPKP


Photo from fabilioh.com

Mary for You, for You’re white and blue, we pray You keep us Mary, constantly true. We pray You keep us Mary, faithful to you.